IPOB lead counsel Ejiofor slams government for failing to tame rampaging Fulani herders in Nigeria 

 

AWKA, Anambra – The lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has described the government’s uncaring attitude toward addressing the menace of rampaging Fulani herdsmen across the country as both shameful and indicting.

Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, a renowned human rights lawyer, stated in a press release on Tuesday that Nigerians are witnessing a grave national tragedy and crisis due to the unchecked bloodbath of innocent and defenceless citizens at the hands of some Fulani herders.

According to him, the daily killings across the country have become a tragic norm, and the government must stop paying lip service to the issue, emphasizing that human life is sacred.

He lamented that, in today’s Nigeria, it appears the lives of cattle are valued more than those of human beings.

Ejiofor called on all levels of government to preserve the sanctity of life and immediately restore public confidence by securing communities and ensuring that the safety of citizens is treated not as a luxury but as a fundamental right.

The statement reads:

“Nigeria is witnessing a grave national tragedy — a relentless wave of violence unleashed by rampaging Fulani herdsmen from Plateau to Benue, from Uzo Uwani in Enugu State to parts of Delta State. The unchecked bloodbath of innocent, defenceless citizens — whose only crime is being aboriginal to their ancestral lands — has become a tragic, daily occurrence.

Each day, new casualty figures are reported by the media, reducing human lives to mere statistics, as though we were counting livestock. Behind those numbers are mothers, fathers, children, and breadwinners — fellow citizens whose lives have been brutally cut short by wicked, soulless killers. The most recent massacre in Plateau State reportedly claimed 52 lives just yesterday, though locals insist the real toll is even higher. Shockingly, these atrocities continue while the state sits in complicit silence, issuing hollow condemnations without any meaningful action.

Let it be made clear: HUMAN LIFE IS SACRED AND IRREPLACEABLE. Yet, in this country, it too often appears that the lives of cattle are valued more than those of human beings. This is a shameful indictment on our government and an affront to our shared humanity.

The time for rhetoric has passed. This is an urgent and unambiguous call for decisive, coordinated action by the Federal Government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the governors of the affected states. These leaders swore an oath — backed by the Constitution — to protect the lives and property of citizens and to guarantee their security. It is a sacred duty, not a negotiable privilege.

The continuous slaughter of innocent Nigerians by marauding herdsmen, and the government’s inertia in the face of this carnage, is both condemnable and unacceptable. All security and law enforcement agencies must act decisively, without bias or hesitation. Communities must also awaken to the painful reality of the state’s failure and begin to lawfully safeguard themselves against this existential threat.

I must reiterate: LIFE IS PRECIOUS. Its sanctity must be preserved. Government at all levels must immediately restore public confidence, secure our communities, and ensure that the safety of the citizens is not a luxury but a right for all.

Enough must finally be enough — and must be seen to be so.”